Esther Littlefield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Esther Littlefield
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| Aan-woogeex' | |
Esther LIttlefield, from a 1982 newspaper
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| Born |
Esther Edith Kasakan
April 29, 1906 Killisnoo, Alaska
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| Died | June 17, 1997 (91 years) Sitka, Alaska
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| Nationality | Tlingit, American |
| Other names | Aanwoogeex, Esther Simpson |
| Occupation | Artist |
Esther Kasakan Littlefield (April 29, 1906 – June 17, 1997), also known by her Tlingit name Aan-woogeex', was a very important Tlingit artist. She was famous for creating beautiful blankets and special clothing called ceremonial regalia, including unique button blankets. Her amazing work earned her a big award, the National Heritage Fellowship, in 1991.
Who Was Esther Littlefield?
Esther Edith Kasakan was born on April 29, 1906. Her birthplace was Killisnoo, a place near Sitka in Alaska. Her parents were James Kasakan and Lena Marie Daniel. Esther was a member of the Kiksadi, which is an important Tlingit clan.
Her Artistic Career
Esther Littlefield created many special items for Tlingit ceremonies. These included hats, blankets, and robes. Her artworks used traditional symbols and designs. These symbols helped to represent people and important events. They also helped tell stories during ceremonies.
She started working at the Sitka National Historical Park in 1969. There, she taught handicraft classes at the Southeast Alaska Indian Cultural Center. She shared her skills and knowledge with others.
Esther Littlefield received several awards for her artistic work. In 1983, she got an award from the National Park Service. The next year, in 1984, she received the Alaska Governor's Award for the Arts. That same year, she was one of the Alaskan artists featured at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. In 1986, Sheldon Jackson College gave her their Christian Citizenship Award.
In 1991, Esther Littlefield received the National Heritage Fellowship. This is a very high honor from the National Endowment for the Arts. John Frohnmayer, who worked for the NEA, said that artists like Esther Littlefield are "living national treasures." He meant that their art traditions are very old and important. They connect us to hundreds of years of history and culture.
Her Family Life
Esther Kasakan was married two times. Her first husband was Louis Simpson Sr. They had four children together. He passed away before 1940. Her second husband was Charles Livingston Littlefield. They had five children together. He passed away in 1989.
Besides her nine children, Esther also helped raise several nieces and nephews. One of them was Leonard K. Shotridge. Esther Littlefield passed away in 1997 in Sitka, Alaska. She was 91 years old.
